Shovels Break Ground To Start Work On Affordable Housing

GUILFORD — Dennis Fitzpatrick was watching intently Thursday as the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels struck dirt at the construction site next to Apple Tree Lane.

The 30-year-old man, now living in a supported-living residence in New Haven, wants to come home to town. But he doesn't want to move back in with his folks, as his understanding mother, Elaine, readily admits.

Where he wants to live is right here, in the soon-to-be-constructed, $2.6 million Guilford II affordable housing development sponsored by the Mutual Housing Association of South Central Connecticut. The nonprofit group is building nine residential units on Apple Tree Lane, next to its Hubbard Woods development, and four units on a site across town on Wild Rose Avenue.

The Apple Tree Lane site is leased to the association by the town for 99 years at a nominal rate. The agency purchased the Wild Rose Avenue parcel for $150,000.

Guilford II is scheduled to be completed by the middle of November, said Seila Mosquera, the association's director of operations.

Would-be residents like Fitzpatrick have to apply to live in Guilford II, must agree to provide eight to 10 hours of community service a month and must meet income eligibility guidelines.

Residents have a lifetime right to their units, according to association brochures, and can nominate a family member to succeed them. Residents are members of a mutual housing association and are involved in all aspects of developing and managing the property.

Monthly housing charges are based on the resident's ability to pay and average 30 percent of a family's adjusted income.

Speakers at Thursday's groundbreaking, including Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Deputy Commissioner Timothy Coppage of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, spoke of the importance of such developments in serving low- and moderate-income families.

Tina Doyle, president of the association's board of directors, said developments like Hubbard Woods counter the negative connotations some people bring to words like ``affordable housing.''

First Selectman Samuel D. Bartlett said most residents of the affluent shoreline town embrace the association's mutual housing concept.

``People want to live in Guilford and Guilford wants mutual housing,'' he said, noting later that there had been some concerns raised when the agency first proposed building in town three years ago. At the time, Hubbard Woods was the only phase proposed for town.

``That it has been so successful is the reason there was not a lot of opposition to a second phase,'' Bartlett said. ``It's not just that they [the agency] want Guilford, but Guilford wants them.''

The first selectman said the housing the association provides not only helps bring people to town, but keeps people in town who might otherwise not be able to afford it.

Young families and the retired elderly will benefit particularly from the affordable housing, association officials said.